Archive for the ‘Columbus issues’ Category

Columbus is the third city in Ohio to ban texting while driving within its limits. This law will go into effect in one month.

Of course, the supporters of this bill say it’s for safety. However, there is no solid evidence that shows the effect of texting while driving, and Columbus Police Chief Walter Distelzweig doesn’t sound like someone that considers this a priority nor does he have any concrete ideas on how to enforce it; these are issues that should have been addressed BEFORE it passed.

It is ridiculous to text while driving, and even more so that we have to legislate it. But lets be honest here: like the seat beat requirement, it’s a money grab for cities with struggling economies.

As I said before, Columbus will have a tax increase on the ballot along with trash pickup increases, according the Dispatch.

Even though the chairman of the commission says that this is the “only option we have” and Council President Mike Mentel refers to this as “gut check time”, I disagree with both of them. We have been at gut check time in Columbus for the last few years, but political leaders have held off on making the decisions that will help the taxpayer.

Mentel says that there will be hearings on the tax increase that will give the people a chance to speak out on this. I plan on attending them, and I hope many Columbusites do the same. They need to hear from us.

Mayor Coleman may not have come out and said it, but it was definately implied in his State of the City address according to the Dispatch.

I wonder what are the costs that make the city budget potentially $50 million over budget?

I cannot, and I am sure that many Columbusites feel the same way, have my taxes increased. Now is not the time. If Mayor Coleman and City Council are the true “fiscal stewards” that they consider themselves, then they must find other ways to get money and trim this budget.

“We’re not furthering our culture by arming everybody…..when you leave your house, go out in public and have to arm yourself, what message is that giving our kids?”

And what would a topic about gun rights be without OSU rag The Lantern getting involved using fear-mongering to make their point:

Here is a campus activity, complete with all the alcohol, adrenaline and testosterone that can be expected during a pre-Michigan November dive into sub-freezing waters, in which, should an altercation break out, bullets might replace fists. This would certainly be a worst-case scenario to allowing those with concealed-carry permits to arm themselves on campus.

What is humorous about the Lantern article is that they even admitted that there is a chance that allowing students to carry guns could protect them. Franklin County Sheriff Steve Martin practically answers their fears by saying there were no incidents involving those with conceal carry permits.

The reality is, the majority of gun owners treat their constitutional right with respect and learn how to handle their guns. It’s the troublemakers that make life difficult. To answer Ms. Hoover, being armed means that you decrease your chance to become a victim. If you are a responsible gun owner with kids, you will teach them to respect that weapon and how to use it properly.

I believe that these ‘gun-free’ zones leave students to be sitting ducks. In the V-Tech and NIU tragedies, armed students could have stopped them before it happened. The tide of support is slowly growing to reverse it, but the misguided and naive views of people like Hoover and The Lantern will lead the fight against it.

Regardless, I’m glad to see that Ohioans are still exercising their constitutional right with obtaining permits.

Looks like the City of Columbus is not waiting for the actual owners to decide what to do with City Center.

To see how far it has fallen is pretty sad. When I first came to Columbus for school in 1999, I remember how packed and active it was. It’s a shame, but I don’t think that it has a chance as a retail location anymore, even with people slowly moving downtown.

If there is one reason to hate local news (and there are a few), it has to be the sensationalization of “high” gas prices. Every time you turn on the news, someone is complaining about how high it is. The complaining has gotten so bad that federal and state leaders feel the need to step in right a perceived wrong.

Americans don’t realize how good we have it. If you want to know what high gas prices are like, go to Europe.

If you really want to know why gas is so high, many of you should look in the mirror. Columbus is possibly one of the most hostile cities to pedestrians and non-drivers in the country. There are places here that do not have sidewalks and COTA sucks; I know this because public transportation and my feet are the modes of transportation that I use to get around this place.

I’ve lived in Cleveland most of my life, so if you are from there you can understand why I’m annoyed with Columbus. RTA has buses that go around Cuyahoga County in even into surrounding counties with good timing. Imagine being from Newark, Canal Winchester, Delaware, London, Marysville, or West Jefferson and catching a bus to work. Long ride? Maybe, but you would save a lot on gas.

The problem isn’t President Bush, or oil companies. It’s us, and even though I don’t have a vehicle I will include myself . Until we support public transportation and demand a system from COTA and our city leaders that can and will work for all Columbus folk, the supply will continue to be strained and the cost will go up.